Collapsible hollow display device



Oct. 16, 1956 DRUECK, JR 2,766,893

COLLAPSIBLE! HOLLOW DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Nov. 12, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1FIE- E 21 J9 Z2 25 a r 1| l I m u fi'ed D/"a eck .fze

Oct. 16, 1956 F. DRUECK, JR 2,756,893

COLLAPSIBLE HOLLOW DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Nov. 12, 1952 2 Sheets-Shee: 2

- FUELS 1 IE.H]

FIE- E] M I F Am, I llllul m I I /!Z fiZZ/e7z'607":

' v E 'ed praeck jj c' m I I 2 WW) r United States Patent COLLAPSIBLEHOLLOW DISPLAY DEVICE Fred Drueck, J12, Chicago, 111., assignor toChicago Cardboard Company, a corporation of Illinois ApplicationNovember 12, 19512, Serial No. 319,842

9 Claims. (Cl. 211-133) This invention relates to hollow collapsibledisplay devices, and in particular it relates to a structure in which anoutside wrapper member of such a device is collapsibly retained in adesired shape by 'a pair of interlocking shaper members which may beassembled and inserted within the wrapper member as a unit.

Paperboard display devices are most desirably constructed in such a Waythat their component parts may be shipped flat, and may be quicklyassembled wherever they are to be used. Hollow display devices have beenparticularly diflicult to construct in this manner, and the presentinvention provides a very simple structure which is adaptable to uprightdrum-type displays, whether they be circular, polygonal or irregular inshape. It is also applicable to flllStO-COIllCfll displays.

In the construction here described a transverse shaper member has asubstantial part of its periphery of the proper shape to abut againstthe inner face of the outside wrapper member so as to retain the wrappermember in the desired shape at a particular transverse plane, and alongitudinal shaper member interlocks with the transverse member and hasat least three edges which extend longitudinally of the wrapper memberand abut against its inner surface. The longitudinal shaper memberisformed from a single rectangular piece of corrugated board, and islongitudinally scored to provide the desired number of edges to abutagainst the Wrapper member. Each face of the longitudinal shaper memberis transversely slotted to receive a portion of the transverseshaper'memher, and said members may be assembled and inserted in thewrapper member as a unit.

Since displays of this type are often used as containers for smallmerchandise in store displays, a filler piece .preferably overlies thetop of the longitudinal shaper member, and has its entire periphery incontact with the outer wrapper member. The filler piece also assists inretaining the Wrapper member in the desired shape but is not essentialfor this purpose. 7 i

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings as applied toa circular cylindrical type of display and as applied to a squareupright display.

Fig. 1 is a central vertical sectional view of a cylindrical displaydevice made in accordance with the invention, the section being taken asindicated along the line 1-1 of Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectionalview taken as indicated along the line '22 of Fig. l, with a part of thelongitudinal shaper member broken away; Fig. 3 is a plan view of afiller piece; Fig. 4 is a plan view of a transverse shaper member; Fig.5 is a side elevation of the transverse shaper member of Fig. 4 viewedas from 55 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken asindicated along the line 66 of Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a central verticalsectional view of a display device which is square in horizontal crosssection, the section being as indicated along the line 7-7 of Fig. 8;Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken as indicated along the line8-8 of Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a plan view of a filler piece for 2 the deviceof Fig. 7; Fig. 10 is aplan view of a transverse shaper member for thedevice of Fig. 7; Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the transverse shapermember of Fig. 9; and Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken asindicated along the linen-12 of Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail and referring particularlyto the cylindrical form of the device shown in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive,a wrapper member 11 is formed from a suitable flexible sheet material,and in the case of the cylindrical device here shown, consists of asingle rectangular sheet of material which has its opposite longitudinaledges secured in overlapping relationship by means of fasteners 12. Asillustrated in the drawings, the outside wrapper member :11 preferablyis formed of a display material which has crease scores formedalternately in its two faces, so that it is readily rolled to thedesired shape; although plain stock may be used. Conveniently thefasteners 12 may be brass paper fasteners so that the wrappermember mayhave an advertising message on each face, and may be assembled witheither face out. With its opposite longitudinal end portions securedtogether as illustrated the wrapper member forms a continuous Wall; andin the particular type of display device illustrated the wall forms aright circular cylinder.

Within the wall are shaper means indicated generally at 13, whichconsists of a transverse shaper member 14 and a longitudinal shapermember 15 which are interlocked. As best seen in Fig. 4 the transverseshaper member has three portions the edges of which form segments '16,17 and 18 of a circle having a radius equal to that of the interior ofthe wall formed by the wrapper member 11. The segments 16 are separatedby notches :19, 2t) and 21, and at the centers of the notches areprojecting wedge-shaped protuberances 22, 23 and 24, respectively.

The longitudinal shaper member 15 is formed from a single rectangularpiece of corrugated board which is provided with longitudinal scorelines 25 and 26 which are equidistant from its longitudinal edges 27 and28 so that it may be folded on the score lines 25 and '25 to enclose anequilateral triangle which has apexes at the score lines 25 and 26 and athird apex 29 where the lon- .gitudinal' edges of the shaper member 15meet. its three faces 39, 31. and 32 are provided, respectively, withslots 33, 34 and 35 which extend transversely of the faces adjacenttheir lower ends. The slots are soproportioned that the edge 27 of thelongitudinal shaper member may be positioned adjacent the apex of thecentral protuberance 22 in the notch 19 on the transverse shaper member,and the face 30 of the longitudinal shaper member may be engaged withthe transverse shaper member so that the arcuate segment 16 extendsthrough the slot 33 and the score line 25 is positioned at the apex ofthe pro.- tuberance 23. The face 31 may then be hinged on the score line25 so as to be brought into engagement with the next arcuate segment 17,and the. score line 26 lies at the apex of the second protuberance 24.The face 32 is then hinged on the score line 26 and engaged with thethird arcuate segment 18 so that its free edge 28 is adjacent the edge27, forming the third apex 29 of the triangular area enclosed by thelongitudinal shaper member. The slots 33,, 34 and 35 are narrow enoughthat they frictionally engage the arcuate segments 16, 17 and 18 so thatthe two shaper member 14v and 15 may be assembled and moved about as aunit.

When the display device is in its collapsed condition the two shapermembers maybe assembled as previously described and may then be insertedinto the space enclosed by the wrapper member 11 so as to hold saidwrapper member in its desired assembled position. If

a at the apexes 25, 26 and 29 of the triangle are 60 and the angles atthe apexes of the wedge-shaped protuberances 22, 23'and 24 are also 60".In order to permit the shaper members 14 and 15 to be assembled asdescribed, the distance from the edge of any face of the member 15 tothe opposite end of the slot in that face is greater than the distancefrom the apex of a protuberance to the nearest point on the adjacentnotch. p

The constructional principle described with respect to the form of thedevice shown in Figs. 1 to is also present in the form shown in Figs. 7to 12, in which a wrapper memberlllhas its longitudinal edge portionssecured together by fastening members 112 and is scored at 113, 114, 115and 116 so that it encloses a square area and has side walls 117, 118,119 and 120. In this case the wrapper member 111 is preferably formedfrom fiat, unfluted stock.

Atransverse shaper member 121 is square so that it has edges 122, 123,124' and 125 each of which is interrupted by a central notch, saidnotches being numbered 126, 127, 128 and 129, respectively, and therebeing central wedge-shaped protuberances 130, 131, 132 and 133 in saidrespective central notches. The portions of the shaper member 121between the notches form corner projections 143, 149, 150 and 151. Inthis shaper member 121 instead of the angle at the apexof eachprotuberance being 60 as in the transverse shaper member for thecylindrical device the angle is 90.

A longitudinal shaper member, indicated generally at 134, has scorelines 135, 136 and 137 whichare spaced at equal distances from itslongitudinal edges 138 and 139, defining identical rectangular faces140, 141, 142 and 143. Said faces 140 to 143, inclusive, are slotted,respectively, at 144,145, 146 and '147 so that each face may be engagedwith one of the corner projections of the transverse shaper member. Theassembly of the two shaper members is the'same as in the cylindricalform shown in Figs. 1 to 5, with the two members being engaged as seenin Fig. 7 so that one of the central wedgeshaped protuberances of thetransverse shaper member extends into each corner of the longitudinalshaper member 134; and the longitudinal edges of the longitudinal shapermember formed by the score lines 135, 136 and 137 and by thelongitudinal edges 138and 1390f said shaper member abut against themedian lines of the four faces of the wrapper member 111. Each of thecorner projections of the shaper member 121 extends into a corner of thewrapper member 111.

The two shaper members 121 and 134 may be'assembled and inserted as aunit within the wrapper member 111, and a square filler. piece 152 maybe rested on top of the longitudinal shaper member, said fillerpiecepreferably having finger openings 153 as shown.

It is plain from the foregoing description that the same principle maybe. applied readily to any displaydevice ing four notches, and thelongitudinal shaper member might be so constructed as to enclose arectangle. In either of the above cases the portion'of the transverseshaper member which extends through the slots in the longitudinal shapermember is in peripheral contact with the inner surface of the wrappermember and the apexes of the longitudinal shaper member abut against thewrapper member.

'A similar. structural principle may be applied, with" minor variationsto irregularly shaped display devices, or to irusto-conicaldevices. v kI The foregoing detailed description'is. given for clearness ofunderstanding and no unnecessary limitation should be understoodtherefrom as variations Will'be apparent to those skilled in the art.

I claim: V 1. A hollow, collapsible display device, comprising; awrapper member-of sheet material which has'two opposite parallel endportions secured together to form a continu' ous wall with open ends;and shaper means within said wall by which it is retained in apredetermined shape, said shaper means including a longitudinal shapermemer consisting of a rectangular piece of rigid sheet material having aplurality of longitudinal parallel score lines along which it is hingedto place its longitudinal margins in juxtaposition and provide at leastthree longitudinal edges and at least three faces enclosing a polygonalarea;

said member having its longitudinal edges abutting said wall and havingcoplanar'slots-in its faces near one end, and a transverse shaper memberof rigid sheet material which has major portions'projecting through saidslots so that it has substantially its entire periphery abutting againstsaid wall and which has notches at the'longitudinal edges of thelongitudinal shaper member and cenfrom the more distant margin of saidface a distance equal to the distance from the outermost part of. the

projection in one notch to the nearest point on the next adjacent notch4. A hollow, collapsible displaydevice, comprising a' wrapper memberformed from,a.rectangular piece of sheet material which has its oppositeend portions secured together to form ai continuous wall; and shapermeans within said wall by which it is caused to enclose a circular area,said shaper means including a longitudinal shaper member consisting of arectangular piece. of rigid sheet'material having a pair of longitudinalscorelines dividing it into three identical faces and being bent alongsaid score lines so that it encloses an equilateral triangle, saidlongitudinal shaper member having its longitudinal edges abutting saidwall and having coplanar slots in which the wall formed by the wrappermember en- An elliptical display device might be madefor example, withan elliptical transverse shaper member havcentrally positioned in itsfaces adjacent one end, and a transverse shaper member of rigid sheetmaterial having a segment extending through eachvslot, themarginof eachsegment being an arc of a circle which abuts against the wall, and *saidtransverse shaper member having three evenly spaced peripheral notchesto accommodate the unslotted portions of said longitudinal shapermember.

5. The device of claim 4 in which there is a central wedge-shapedprojection in each peripheral notch which 7 fills the angle betweenadjacent faces of the longitudinal shaper member.

Q 6. A hollow, collapsible'display device comprising: a

wrapper member formedfrom a rectangular piece of sheet material whichhas its longitudinal edge portions secured together to form a continuouswall and which has a plurality of evenly spaced longitudinal score linesdividing it into faces so that-said. wall may enclose a regular polygon;and shaper means within said wall by which it is caused to enclose aregular polygon, said shaper means including a longitudinal shapermember consisting of a rectangular piece of rigid sheet material havingthe same number of longitudinal score lines as said wrapper member whichdivide it into a plurality of identical faces and being bent along saidscore lines so that it encloses a polygonal area similar to thatenclosed by said wall, said longitudinal shaper member having coplanarslots centrally positioned in its faces adjacent one end, and atransverse shaper member of rigid sheet material having a segmentextending through each slot, the margin of each segment having two sideswhich meet at an angle equal to the angle at an apex of the regularpolygon enclosed by said wall and abutting adjacent portions of twofaces of said wall, and said transverse shaper member having aperipheral notch between each two adjacent segments to accommodate theunslotted portions of said longitudinal shaper member, whereby thelongitudinal edges of the longitudinal shaper member abut the faces ofsaid wall along their longitudinal central lines, and said shapermembers may be removed from within said wrapper member as a unit.

7. The device of claim 6 in which there is a central wedge-shapedprojection in each peripheral notch which fills the angle betweenadjacent faces of the longitudinal shaper member.

8. A hollow, collapsible display device comprising: a wrapper memberformed from a rectangular piece of sheet material which has itslongitudinal edge portions secured together to form a continuous walland which has three evenly spaced longitudinal score lines dividing itinto four faces so that said wall may enclose a square; and shaper meanswithin said wall by which it is caused to enclose a square, said shapermeans including a square transverse shaper member of rigid sheetmaterial which has marginal portions abutting every face of the wall andextending into the corners thereof, said transverse shaper member havinga marginal notch at the center of each of its edges, and a longitudinalshaper member of rigid sheet material having three evenly spacedlongitudinal score lines which divide it into four identical faces andbeing bent along said score lines so that it encloses a square which isslightly smaller than that enclosed by said wall, said longitudinalshaper member having ooplanar slots centrally positioned in its facesadjacent one end through which the corners of the transverse shapermember extend, whereby the longitudinal edges of the longitudinal shapermember abut the faces of said wall along their longitudinal center linesand said shaper members may be removed from said wrapper member as aunit.

9. A hollow collapsible display device comprising: a wrapper member offlexible sheet material having two opposite end portions securedtogether to form a continuous wall; and shaper means within said wall bywhich it is retained in a predetermined shape, said shaper meansincluding a transverse shaper member of rigid sheet material which hassubstantially its entire periphery in contact with the wall; andlongitudinal shaper means composed of a single sheet of rigid materialhaving at least three faces which enclose a polygonal area and havinglongitudinally extending juxtaposed edges in contact with the wall andbeing further provided with a plurality of generally longitudinallyextending score lines along which it is hinged to provide saidlongitudinally extending juxtaposed edges and said faces, saidlongitudinal shaper means having a long transverse slot in each face,said slots being coplanar, and said transverse shaper member havingmajor portions projecting through said slots into contact with thewrapper member and having a notch at each longitudinal edge portion toreceive the unslotted portions of said longitudinal shaper means wherebysaid edge portions lie within the periphery of said shaper member andthe longitudinal edges are positioned substantially on a projection ofthe periphery of the shaper member, said slotted and notched portionspermitting ready assembly and disassembly as a unit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,545,771 Hout July 14, 1925 1,738,208 Roberts Dec. 3, 1929 1,962,833Nuckols June 12, 1934 2,115,181 Shapiro Apr. 26, 1938 2,421,453 CrawshawJune 3, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS 516,460 Great Britain Ian. 2, 1940

